Collating machine pocket drum



April 1962 D. E. FORNELL ETAL 3,031,189

COLLATING MACHINE POCKET DRUM Filed Nov. 18, 1960 Z r a m M J. mm; M m rT 2 m ifi/ A 4 a J WW 2 2 MM I a V. {B u 7 N L 2 W1 6" n z I 'l lfi 4Unite States 3,fl3l,l89 Patented Apr. 24, 1962 3,031,189 COLLATINGMACHHNE PGCKET DRUM David E. Fornell, 19231 W. Davison Ave, and BertilS. Fornell, 19633 Brady, both of Detroit, Mich. Filed Nov. 18, 196i Ser.No. 70,211 6 Claims. (Cl. 271-86) This invention relates to sheetcollating machines and more particular to a pocket drum havingadjustable false side and bottom members for accommodating various sizepaper sheets especially relatively very small sheets in the relativelyvery large drum.

Collating drums have been employed heretofore to facilitate receivingsheets in the various pockets of the drum, however, the several devicesof the prior art have not proven entirely satisfactory inasmuch as theyare not adjustable to facilitate the handling of various size papersheets and moreover the devices of the prior art are complicated indesign and construction, expensive to manufacture, diflicult to install,and unsatisfactory in use.

With the foregoing in view, the primary object of the invention is toprovide a collator drum having relatively large sheet receiving pocketsintegrated with slidable end members constituting adjustable false endsand a false bottom member completely adapting the drum for receivingvarious size sheets therein and wherein the drum and adjustable membersare inexpensive to manufacture, simple in design and consrtuction, easyto use, and highly satisfactory in use as even very small sheets areneatly held in edge alignment.

An object of the invention is to provide radially disposed sideplates inthe drum defining the sides of the pockets therein with each side platehaving a projecting shoulder abutting a substantially U-shaped falsebottom member fixedly holding the false bottom member in easilydemountably mounted condition.

An object of the invention is to provide false end members substantiallyU-shaped in cross-section abutting the drum side plate shoulder easilydemountably mounting the end members in the drum in endwise slidablecondition for adjustably locating the false end members to accommodatevarious size sheets.

An obejct of the invention is to provide an inverted U-shaped clipflange on the top of the false end members overlapping the drum sideplate top edge mechanically holding the false end member against thedrum side plate shoulder.

An object of the invention is to provide a relief cut out in the centralarea of the drum side plates providing an opening for sidewise slidingthe end member U-clip into mechanical interlock with the side plateshoulder and also for exposing the false bottom member edge adjacentthereto for easy insertion and removal.

An obejct of the invention is to provide springing action in the falsebottom and end members urging the members into engagement with the drumside plate shoulder.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent byreference to the following description of a collator drum and removableand adjustable false bottom and end members embodying the inventiontaken in connection with the accompaying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of a collator drumtaken on the line 1-1 of FIG. 2 showing the false end members in sideelevation.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken on the line 22 thereof.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the false bottom member inface elevation.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 taken on the line 4-4thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective View of a false end member.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like andcorresponding parts throughout the several views, the collator drum andfalse bottom and end members disclosed therein to illustrate theinvention comprises, a collator drum 1i? having circular end plates 11and 12 interconnected and spaced by radially disposed side plates 13 anda cylindrical bottom plate 14 which may be formed from a cylinder orintegrated as incremental flanges 14A extending off the side plate 13;the sheet holding drum pockets 15 are sidewise defined by the spacedside plates 13 and endwise defined by the spaced end plates 11 and 12and bottomWiSe defined by a bottom plate 14 and it is obvious that thesedimensions are fixed regardless of the size sheet being collated.

More particularly, each side plate 13 has an offset crimp 20 parallelingits upper edge 21 creating a sidewise extending and downwardly engagingshoulder 22. Also a cut out relief 23 in the central area of the sideplate 13 is provided.

The false bottom member 25 is substantially U-shaped in cross-sectionhaving a bottom panel 26, a side flange 27, and a relatively longer sideflange 28 edgewise abutting the drum side plate shoulder 22 and due tothe fact that the false bottom member 25 is spring wise torsionedoutwardly, the false bottom member 25 tends to rise by pressing sidewiseagainst the outwardly inclining drum side plates 13 thereby urging thetop edge of the false bottom member flange 28 into engagement with thedrum side plate shoulder 22 thereby fixedly locating the false bottommember 25 in the drum 10. It will be understood that it is onlynecessary for the operator to push the false bottom member 25 downwardlybetween the drum side plates 13 whereupon the flange 28 bi-passing theshoulder 22 the side plate is snapped and fixedly located in positioncreating a false bottom at the panel 26 above the drum bottom plate 14.

Each false end member 30 is substantially U-shaped in cross-section,FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, and comprises an end panel 31 and two side flanges 32and 33 with the upper edge 34 of the side flange 33 adapted to lie underand abut the drum side plate 13 shoulder 22 and due to the fact that theend panel 31 and flanges 32 and 33 are springwise integrated they presssidewise outwardly against the outwardly inclining drum side plates 13causing the false end member 30 to rise in the pocket area and to abutthe flange upper edge 34 against the side plate shoulder 22.

Preferably, each false end member 30 is equipped with an invertedU-shaped clip 35 mechanically overlapping the top of the drum side plate13 to mechanically interlock the top edge 34 against the side plate 13shoulder 22. The false end plates 30 are shown in right and left handembodiments as will be easily understood.

In assembly, the operator presses a false bottom member downwardly in adrum pocket and upon its side flange 28 top edge bi-passing the drumside plate shoulder 22 it snaps into position and it will be noted thatthe cut out relief 23 leaves the center portion of the false bottomflange 28 exposed for easy insertion and removal.

The operator inserts a right hand false end member 30 as seen in FIGS.1, 2, and 5 in the drum side plate 1-3 out out relief area 23, andslides the inverted U-shaped clip 35 over the drum side plate 13 upperedge 21 and shoulder 22 with the false end member 30' spring wiseengaging the drum side plates 13 and the shoulder 22 so as to endwiseslidably interlock the false end member 30 between the adjacent drumside plates 13 and it is obvious that the false end member '30 isslidably adjustable endwise to the desired position. The left hand falseend member 30 seen in FIG. 2 is similarly mounted and is similarlyendwise adjustable.

In use, the false bottom member reduces the depth of the drum pocketsand the false end members adjustably reduce the endwise extent of thedrum pockets. This enables the drum to hold a relatively small sheet inclosespaced proximity in edge aligned condition in the pockets so thatwhen they are removed they are in edge align- 5 ment. In the event thefull endwise extent of the drum is to be used the false end members canbe moved sidewise outwardly thereby leaving them in assembled positionin the drum but not reducing the endwise extent thereof. Also the falsebottom member can be easily inserted and removed as desired.

The novel collator drum and false bottom and end members with thefeatures described constitute a compact, durable, neat appearingmechanism, easily operated to adjust the drum pocket size to the size ofthe sheet to be used creating mechanical facility for sheet sizeadjustment in a short period of time thereby enabling a large collatordrum handling any size sheet with efliciency.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail, it is obvious that many changes may be made in thesize, shape, detail, and arrangement of the various elements of theinvention within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A drum particularly suitable for use on a collating machine havingindividual radially disposed pockets comprising spaced circular endplates defining the end walls of the drum pockets; spaced radial sideplates between said end walls defining the side walls of the drumpockets, said side plates having radially inner and outer edges; abottom plate between said circular end plates lying below said sideplates defining the bottom wall of the drum pockets; said drum sodefined forming pockets of the largest sheet size receiving capacity;each said side plate having an offset crimp running parallel to andspaced below said side plate radially outer edge forming a projectingshoulder in said side plate on one side thereof; a false bottom membereasily removable and insertable in each said pocket for shortening thedepth of said pocket including a first side flange lying against onesaid side plate below said shoulder having an outer edge abutting saidshoulder, a bottom panel on said first side flange spaced above saidbottom plate spanning the area be tween said spaced side plates, and asecond side flange on said bottom panel lying against said next sideplate; said side flanges being springwise pressed outwardly forcing saidside flanges outwardly against said radial side plates; said radial sideplates angularly opening outwardly relative to one another and said sideflanges causing said false bottom member in conjunction with outwardlyspringing action to slide radially outwardly thereby driving said firstside flange outer edge into forced engagement with said side plateshoulder to hold said false bottom member fixedly in said drum; eachsaid drum side plate having a relief cut out in its outer edge exposingsaid false bottom first side flange upper edge for easy manual insertionand removal; paired false end members substantially U-shaped in crosssection each consisting of a false end center panel and side flangesabutting said drum side plates with one said side flange having a topedge lying below and abutting said drum side plate shoulder; said falseend members being springwise pressed between said outwardly angling drumside plates causing said false end members to slide radially outwardlyof said drum to forceably engage said false end member side flange outeredge with said drum side plate shoulder to hold said false end membersfixedly in said drum; said false end members being slidable toward andaway from one another to vary the size pocket space therebetween; and aninverted U- shaped hook flange on said false end member side flangeabutting said shoulder leading over said drum side plate outer edgemechanically locking said false end member side flange in shoulderengagement; said hook flange being sidewise engageable with said drumside plate at said plate relief cut out relief for easy insertion andremoval of said false end members.

2. A drum particularly suitable for use on a collating machine havingindividual radially disposed pockets comprising spaced circular endplates defining the end walls of the drum pockets; spaced radial sideplates between said end Walls defining the side walls of the drumpockets, said side plates having radially inner and outer edges; abottom plate between said circular end plates lying below said sideplates defining the bottom wall of the drum pockets; said drum sodefined forming pockets of the largest sheet size receiving capacity;each said side plate having an offset crimp running parallel to andspaced below said side plate radially outer edge forming a projectingshoulder in said side plate on one side thereof; and a false bottommember easily removable and insertable in each said pocket forshortening the depth of said pocket including a first side flange lyingagainst one said side plate below said shoulder having an outer edgeabutting said shoulder, a bottom panel on said first side flange spacedabove said bottom plate spanning the area between said spaced sideplates, and a second side flange on said bottom panel lying against saidnext side plate; said side flanges being springwise pressed outwardlyforcing said side flanges outwardly against said radial side plates;said radial side plates angularly opening outwardly relative to oneanother and said side flanges causing said false bottom member inconjunction with outwardly springing action to slide radially outwardlythereby driving said first side flange outer edge into forced engagementwith said side plate shoulder to hold said false bottom member fixedlyin said drum.

3. A drum particularly suitable for use on a collating machine havingindividual radially disposed pockets comprising spaced circular cndplates defining the end walls of the drum pockets; spaced radial sideplates between said end walls defining the side wall of the drumpockets, said side plates having radially inner and outer edges; abottom plate between said circular end plates lying below said sideplates defining the bottom wall of the drum pockets; said drum sodefined forming pockets of the largest sheet size receiving capacity;each said side plate having an offset crimp running parallel to andspaced below said side plate radially outer edge forming a projectingshoulder in said plate on one side thereof; said drum side plate beingrelief cut out in its outer edge; paired false end members substantiallyU-shaped in cross section each consisting of a false end center paneland side flanges abutting said drum side plates with one said sideflange having a top edge lying below and abutting said drum side plateshoulder; said false end members being springwise pressed between saidoutwardly angling drum side plates causing said false end members toslide radially outwardly of said drum to forceably engage said false endmember side flange outer edge with said drum side plate shoulder to holdsaid false end member fixedly in said drum; said false end members beingslideable toward and away from one another to vary the size pocket spacetherebetween; and an inverted U-shaped hook flange on said false endmember side flange abutting said shoulder leading over said drum sideplate outer edge mechanically locking said false end member side flangein shoulder engagement; said hook flange being sidewise engageable withsaid drum side plate at said plate relief cutout relief for easyinsertion and removal of said false end members.

4. A drum particularly suitable for use on a collating machine havingindividual radially disposed pockets comprising spaced circular endplates defining the end walls of the drum pockets; spaced radial sideplates between said end walls defining the side walls of the drumpockets, said side plates having radially inner and outer edges; abottom plate between said circular end plates lying below said sideplates defining the bottom wall of the drum pockets; said drum sodefined forming pockets of the largest sheet size receiving capacity;each said side plate having an offset crimp running parallel to andspaced below said side plate radially outer edge forming a projectingshoulder in said side plate on one side thereof; a false bottom membereasily removable and insertable in each said pocket for shortening thedepth of said pocket including a first s-ide flange lying against onesaid plate below said shoulder having an outer edge abutting saidshoulder, a bottom panel on said first side flange spaced above saidbottom plate spanning the area between said one side plate and anadjacent side plate, and a second side flange on said bottom panel lyingagainst said next side plate; said side flanges being springwise pressedoutwardly forcing said side flanges outwardly against said radial sideplates; said radial side plates angularly opening outwardly relative toone another and said side flanges causing said false bottom member inconjunction with outwardly springing action to slide radially outwardlythereby driving said first side flange outer edge into forced engagementwith said side plate shoulder to hold said false bottom member fixedlyin said drum; each said drum side plate having a relief cut out in itsouter edge exposing said false bottom first side flange upper edge foreasy manual insertion and removal; and paired false end memberssubstantially U-shaped in cross section each consisting of a false endcenter panel and side flanges abutting said drum side plates with onesaid side flange having a top edge lying below and abutting said drumside plate shoulder; said false end members being springwise pressedbetween said outwardly angling drum side plates causing said false endmembers to slide radially outwardly of said drum to forceably engagesaid false end member side flange outer edge with said drum side plateshoulder to hold said false end member fixedly in said drum; said falseend members being slidable toward and away from one another to vary thesize pocket space therebetween.

5. A false bottom member particularly suitable for use on a collatingmachine having individual radially disposed pockets including spacedcircular end plates defining the end walls of the drum pockets; spacedradial side plates between the drum end walls defining the side walls ofthe drum pockets; a bottom plate between the drum circular end plateslying below the drum side plates defining the bottom wall of the drumpockets; the drum so defined forming pockets of the largest shegt sizereceiving capacity; each drum side plate having means for cooperatingwith attaching means on said member; said false bottom member beingeasily removable and insertable In each drum pocket for shortening thedepth of the drum pocket including a first side flange for lying againstone drum side plate, a bottom panel on said first side flange sointegrated when installed as to be spaced above the drum bottom platefor spanning the area between the drum spaced side plates, and a secondside flange on said bottom panel for lying against the drum next sideplate; said member side flanges being springwise pressed outwardly forforcing said side flanges outwardly against the drum radial side plateswhen installed; the drum radial side plates angularly opening outwardlyrelative to one another and said member side flanges causing said falsebottom member in conjunction with outwardly springing action wheninstalled normally to slide radially outwardly, and attaching means onsaid member cooperable with the drum attaching means to prevent saidmember from sliding radially outwardly and to hold said false bottommember fixedly in the drum when installed.

6. A false end member particularly suitable for use on a collatingmachine having individual radially disposed pockets having spacedcircular end plates defining the end walls of the drum pockets, spacedradial side plates between the drum end walls defining the side walls ofthe drum pockets; a bottom plate between the drum circular end plateslying below the drum side plates defining the bottom wall of the drumpockets; the drum so defined forming pockets of the largest sheet sizereceiving capacity; each drum side plate having means for cooperatingwith attaching means on said member; said false end member beingsubstantially U-shaped in cross section consisting of a false end centerpanel and side flanges for abutting the drum side plates; said false endmember when installed being springwise pressed between said outwardlyangling drum side plates causing said false end member to slide radiallyoutwardly of the drum to force ably engage said false end member sideflanges with the drum side plates to press said false end member fixedlyin the drum; said false end member being endwise slideable to vary thesize pocket space in the drum; and attaching means on said end memberfor cooperating with the drum attaching means when installed for lockingsaid false end member in the drum in its adjusted position relativethereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS867,684 Thomas Oct. 8, 1907 1,449,750 Hampshire et al Mar. 27, 19232,922,640 Fornell et a1 I an. 26, 1960

